Structure of a Good Resume

A good resume will reflect a good candidate.

It is important to research resumes that relate to specific industries before designing one. Many industries have resume preferences and standards. For example, journalism resumes usually are, according to Ed2010.com, kept to one page with education sitting at the bottom of the resume. On the other hand, several employers like to see education details listed on top of the resume. However, there are fail-proof methods to crafting a strong resume that can be adapted to fit the structure of any industry's resume standard.

Identification

A clear, readable resume is a good first step.

The heading of a resume should always include the applicant's full name and contact information, including address, email and phone number. The name should be in bold and stand out. The email address should be professional sounding---a name works just fine.

The font on a good resume should always be a standard and clear. According to Resume Miners, good fonts include Arial, Times New Roman and Tahoma.

Objective

A strong objective is a good idea.

An objective or personal statement is sometimes used on resumes. According to International Graduate, it is an optional element that can be used in cover letters. However, on a sparse resume, it may help fill blank space and clue the employer into what the applicant wants in his career.

This statement should be placed under the contact information. It should include a specific, clear career focus and goal. It should be no longer than three lines.

Education

All higher education should be listed on a resume.

A necessary section for most resumes is the "Education" section. List all educational degrees and certifications. These should be listed in order of most recent to least and should show all relevant and major schooling. Unless the resume belongs to a college student, high school information is not necessary. Short courses, such as those taken during a summer, also count. If the applicant is not in college, community courses or job training courses should be displayed.

If a resume is sparse or shows little work experience, a few relevant college courses can be highlighted in the education section.

Experience

List all relevant jobs.

A "Relevant Experience" section should also be listed. If the applicant is applying for a specific sort of job, the person should list all relevant roles and positions in that sector. If there is little experience in that area, an alternate field can be provided as well. This should be titled "Other Experience."

This should list long-term jobs and duties the applicant has performed to show their work ethic. Jobs should be listed in chronological order from most recent to least, and should be accompanied by a brief, specific job description.

Skills

Skills should always be listed.

A last beneficial section to include is "Skills." Skills should reflect any knowledge of computer programs, typing speed, languages, driving or programs relevant to the industry to which the applicant is applying.

References

• Ed2010: Tips for Writing a Resume the Right Way
• Resume Miners: Resume Fonts
• International Graduate: How to Write a Good Résumé or CV

Resources

• Career Builder